On July 22nd of 2010, Aaron Drendel and Jake Mullins completed an adventure of a lifetime. They paddled the entire length of the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, MN to the Gulf of Mexico: 2,320 miles.
Through much-appreciated donations we raised over $7,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
We greatly appreciate all the support and donations that made this trip a success.
Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about the trip.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

"Who Dat?"

Who Dat?
Not far from Jackson Square is a riverwalk along the Mississippi River. On this river walk there are stairs that lead right to the river’s edge, so close that one could dangle their toes in the river. At 6:45 p.m. Carol and I sat on these stairs looking upstream for the better part on an hour. Finally, in the distance we picked up the movement of a small boat silhouetted against the New Orleans’ skyline. I grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots. Over the next ½ hour I would snap more frequent shots and Carol and I would occasionally point or make a comment about the canoe which was inching its way closer. The other people around us started to take notice. 20 – 15 people in our adjacent vicinity started to slowly ask us questions. Each answer brought more questions, and the questions started to pick up in frequency as the little boat neared the stairs. “Who dat?, Where did they come from?, Where is Minnesota, isn’t that north somewhere?, Where do they sleep?, How they gonna paddle back? Didn’t I hear something about these guys on CNN?” By the time Aaron and Jake made it to the stairs the crowd grew to 30 or more. Some people had no clue what was going on “Is it legal to put a canoe on this river?” Some people were starting to grasp the enormity of the effort as Carol and I continued to answer questions “How many days has it taken them?” Some people simply sat there with tears in their eyes “I can’t believe they did this – my mom died of breast cancer last summer”. We helped unload the boat but the questions just increased. One overly inquisitive 5 year old latched on to Jake and fired question after question. Jake patiently answered every single question as he handed me gear from the boat. “Did you eat any alligators?, My uncle has a boat, do you know my uncle?, How many times did you tip over?, I got a fishing pole for my birthday, do you want to see it sometime?” After our entertaining of the crowd was over we got the guys a good meal, a shower and a good night’s rest.

Aaron and Jake paddled 52 miles to marker 94.

Leaving in 15 minutes to take Aaron and Jake to International House of Pancakes and then back in the river by 6:00a.m. for the final two days.

I sense that I'm not the only person who would say that to be proud of indeed.. And, as harsh as this may sound, there are people who will deserve simply because they lack basic assistance that if some of us move more urgently, these lives would have been saved.

Oh man… How did I ever not read your articles before? Do you write articles on only this topic or do you write on many others as well. How and where can I find your articles so that I read them and gain the knowledge on the same, because I just love the way you write.kamagra|kamagra Oral jelly|meltabs

I'm 55-year-old from Korean, I was diagnosed with second-stage liver cancer following a scheduled examination to monitor liver cirrhosis. I had lost a lot of weight. A CT scan revealed three tumors; one in the center of my liver in damaged tissue and two in healthy portions of my liver. No chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment was prescribed due to my age, the number of liver tumors. One month following my diagnosis I began taking 12 (350 point) Salvestrol supplements per day, commensurate with my body weight. This comprised six Salvestrol Shield (350 point) capsules and six Salvestrol Gold (350 point) capsules, spread through the day by taking two of each capsule after each main meal. This level of Salvestrol supplementation (4,000 points per day) was maintained for four months. In addition, I began a program of breathing exercises, chi exercises, meditation, stretching and stress avoidance. Due to the variety of conditions that I suffered from, I received ongoing medical examinations. Eleven months after commencing Salvestrol supplementation But all invalid so I keep searching for a herbal cure online that how I came across a testimony appreciating Dr Itua on how he cured her HIV/Herpes, I contacted him through email he listed above, Dr Itua sent me his herbal medicine for cancer to drink for two weeks to cure I paid him for the delivering then I received my herbal medicine and drank it for two weeks and I was cured until now I'm all clear of cancer, I will advise you to contact Dr Itua Herbal Center On Email...drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com. WhatsApps Number...+2348149277967. If you are suffering from Diseases listed below, Cancer, HIV/Aids, Herpes Virus, Hepatitis, Chronic Illness. Lupus,Fibromyalgia.

WHAT A GREAT MIRACLE THAT I HAVE EVER SEE IN MY LIFE. My names are Robert Mary I’m a citizen of United Kingdom, My younger sister was Sick ofbreast cancer and her name is Robert Jane, I and my family have takingher to all kind of hospital in UK still yet no good result. I decidedto go to the internet and search for cancer cure so that was how Ifind a lady called Sarah peter she was testifies to the world aboutthe goodness of a herbal man who has the root and half to cure allkind of disease and the herbal email was there. So I decided tocontact the herbal man for my younger sister help to cure her breastcancer. I contacted him and told him my problem he told me that Ishould not worry that my sister cancer will be cure, he told me thatthere is a medicine that he is going to give me that I will cook itand give it to my sister to drink for one week, so I ask how can Ireceive the cure that I am in UK, he told meThat I will pay for the delivery service. The courier service cantransport it to me so he told me the amount I will pay, so my dad paidfor the delivery fee. two days later I receive the cure from thecourier service so I used it as the herbal man instructed me to,before the week complete my sister cancer was healed and it was like adream to me not knowing that it was physical I and my family were veryhappy about the miracle of Doctor so my dad wanted to pay him 5million us dollars the herbal man did not accept the offer from my dad,but I don't know why he did not accept the offer,he only saidI should tell the world about him and his miracle he perform so am nowhere to tell the world about him if you or your relative is having anykind of disease that you can't get from the hospital please contactDr.ogididanspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp +2347067393105,message him on instragram dr.ogididan or website ogididanherbalhome.wordpress.com for the cure, he will help you outwith any problems you have.To get more information you can message me via email robertmary8947@gmail.com

Map for August 21 Open House/Celebration

Open House/Celebration Saturday, August 21st

Anyone who has been following this blog, been affected with cancer or who is just curious is welcome to attend the open house/celebration for Aaron and Jake's accomplishment at Glenwood Forest Preserve on the Fox River in Batavia. The open house will be from 1:00-5:00 p.m. with Aaron and Jake speaking from 4:00-5:00.

Followers

The Paddlers

Both from Batavia, Illinois, Aaron Drendel and Jake Mullins are avid outdoorsmen.

Aaron graduated from Illinois State University in May 2009 with a degree in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management. He has been a dedicated fisherman his whole life. Other hobbies include: mountain biking, canoeing, and basketball. Aaron spent two summers working as a commercial salmon fisherman in Alaska during college.

Jake graduated from Lewis University in December 2009 with a degree in Aircraft Maintenance. He is also a licensed pilot. As far as the outdoors, he does a little bit of everything. Backpacking, road-biking, mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing are the favorites of his hobbies. Boating on Lake Michigan has created a love of being on the water, making travel by canoe the best way to cross the US. At 22, now is the perfect time for a great adventure.